Woman in Japan dies of suspected heatstroke after taking refuge in car following Kumamoto quake

A woman in her 70s has died from suspected heatstroke after seeking shelter in her car following a major earthquake in Kumamoto prefecture, southwestern Japan. Local officials confirmed the death on August 2, noting it could be the first fatality directly linked to the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck on July 28.

The woman was discovered on July 30, her car having run out of petrol. Her death brings the total number of fatalities related to the earthquake to 38, although two other cases are still under investigation to determine their direct connection to the seismic event. The prefectural government reported that 12 people remain in serious condition, an increase from 11 reported the previous day.

More than 9,000 individuals are currently residing in evacuation shelters or other temporary accommodations as a result of the earthquake. The ongoing situation highlights the dual challenges faced by survivors: recovering from the immediate disaster while also contending with environmental conditions.